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Australian Report -- The view from down under. Tasso Tzioumis (Tasso.Tzioumis@csiro.au) Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF) CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science RAFCAP2010 – Mitaka 5 June 2010. Radio Telescopes. LBA Radio Telescopes in Australia. x Katherine.
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Australian Report --The view from down under Tasso Tzioumis (Tasso.Tzioumis@csiro.au) Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF) CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science RAFCAP2010 – Mitaka 5 June 2010
LBA Radio Telescopes in Australia x Katherine x ASKAP x Yarragadee x New Norcia x CSIRO.
New Radio Telescopes - Auscope • AuScope VLBI Project • http://www-ra.phys.utas.edu.au/auscope/ • 3 new antennas • Geodetic/astrometric VLBI observations – IVS • Advanced construction
New Radio Telescopes – ASKAP & NZ • NZ Warkworth antenna • 12m antenna; Alt-Az mount • Similar to AuScope • Very fast: 4 degs/second • Interim VLBI system at 1400 MHz • First ASKAP antenna (from planned 36) • 12m antenna; Alt-Az mount • 3rd axis motion for polarisation • Very fast: 4 degs/second • Interim VLBI system at 1400 MHz
“Radio sensitive zones” in Australia • Radio Act review 2002 – “radio sensitive zones” • Notification and coordination - no protection • Regulatory RALI (2006) covers all Oz RA sites (MS31) • Studies by ACMA (administration)
Notification Zone Parameters • Limits derived from RA.769 (+ ~10-15 dB) & VLBI • Propagation models from P.526 (Diffraction) and terrain models.
Management of Radio Notification Zones • Email contact: atnf-spectrum@csiro.au • Group email for RFI and Spectrum issues • RALI MS31 – response within 1-week • Includes all existing radio telescopes in Australia • ~ average 1 notification /month • Work Collaboratively with Tx proponents • Works very well in practice • Latest example • Network by Transgrid (power distribution company) • Fixed links at ~6.5 GHz • Proposed 6660 MHz link at 35 km to Parkes • Could affect Methanol observations at 6.7 GHz • Moved channel allocation to not impact methanol • Informal emails & phone calls
Murchison Radio Observatory gazetted towns: 0 population: “up to 160”
MRO (SKA) site protection • Multi-layered protection • Ownership and control of central area (Boolardy) • EMI controls • Mineral resource management area – state govt • Radio Quiet Zone • Embargo 41 (since 2005) • RALI MS32 (since 2007) (available from ACMA website) • Preserve, maintain and enhance radio-quieteness • Pathfinders now (ASKAP, MWA,…) • SKA in future
Embargo 41 • In force since 2005 • No new assignments in the range 100‑230 MHz within 150 km radius of the centre point of the RQZ. • No new assignments in the range 230 MHz‑25.25 GHz within 100 km radius of the centre point. • Applies to all apparatus licensed, coordinated terrestrial stations and earth stations within the specified zone. (Grand-fathering allowed…) • Exceptions require a case-by-case consideration and approval of the Manager, Spectrum Planning and Engineering Section of the ACMA.
SKA RQZ in Australia • Studies & definition by ACMA & CSIRO • RALI MS32 - in force since 24/9/2007
RALI MS 32 distances >230 MHz restricted 100-230 MHz restricted 100-230 MHz coordination
Oz RQZ procedures • From RALI MS32
Radiocommunications Act (1992) • Governs all telecommunications in Australia • Radio astronomy already recognised • Section 21 Astronomical and meteorological observations • This Act applies to a radio emission in connection with making astronomical or meteorological observations in the same way as it applies to a radiocommunication. • Wide scope for making regulations • Section 314 Regulations • …… • (2) ….. the regulations may make provision in relation to: • (a) prohibiting or regulating any act or thing likely to cause interference, or risk of interference, to radiocommunications; or • (b) prohibiting or regulating making of radio emissions from a place within a specified area; or …..
Next steps • Maintain and strengthen RQZ • EMI • Radiocommunications • Use Radcommunications Act (1992) to: • Enact new regulations as needed • Strengthen/streamline current provisions • New legislative instruments ? • Political support • ACMA critical to success • Work with the regulator not against it!!
Contact Us Phone: 1300 363 400 or +61 3 9545 2176 Email: enquiries@csiro.au Web: www.csiro.au Thank you!Questions? Tasso Tzioumis Tasso.tzioumis@csiro.au